A Brief Discussion of Arrows in Naxi Dongba Religion
This article examines the arrow as a sacred symbol in Naxi Dongba religion, focusing on its role in beliefs about life, the soul, and the "Su" life deity. Drawing on Dongba ritual texts, sacred paintings, and folk customs, the author traces arrow worship to ancient Naxi warfare and hunting practices, in which the arrow's lethal power was deified and fetishized. The study highlights a duality in this worship: arrows wielded by gods or humans are revered as sacred instruments capable of exorcising evil spirits and bringing fortune, while arrows in the hands of demons or enemies are feared as sources of calamity, giving rise to shamanic rites such as "extracting the arrow of pain" and "transferring poisoned arrows to effigies." The article also explores connections between arrow symbolism, Naxi fertility worship, and "frog yin-yang five-elements" beliefs, concluding with a comparative analysis of arrow rituals in Dongba and Tibetan Bon religion, illuminating historical ties between the two indigenous traditions.
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